Rainbow Dot Nails

I've seen this style floating around the Internet lately, and seeing as how I can't let a rainbow pass me by, I decided to give it a shot.  I received a set of dotting tools for Christmas- yay!- so this was my first shot at using them!  Very cool!

Not too shabby!  There's a few things I would do differently next time, but overall I think it was fun and bright and cute for the end of 2012!

Products Used:

LA Girl Matte Black

Zoya America

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Sun Kissed

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Lightening

China Glaze Gaga for Green

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Brisk Blue

China Glaze Gothic Lolita

Rainbow Dots!

This one was super simple but still one of my favorite looks when finished!  UNFORTUNATELY.  The color I chose to use as my base- Stone Cold from China Glaze's Capitol Colors collection- purely exists to make me SO MAD.  It is a gorgeous, gorgeous color.  It's all metallic and glimmery and gorgeous when matte and even moreso with a top coat.  But the formula is so bad!  I mentioned it briefly before. but it seriously chips within literal minutes of drying!  It doesn't seem to matter what I do- basecoat, no basecoat, top coat, no topcoat, whatever.  I look down and then realize that my nails are all chipped up and I just painted then an hour ago.  Talk about frustrating!  In order to take these photos I had to completely redo my thumb and pointer finger, got back to my computer and realized that the pinky finger was all chipped to hell also!  So I just covered up the chips and went to redo the pictures.  Bah!  China Glaze is probably my favorite brand.  But this particular color is just a pain in my side.

Anyway, wow, what a long-winded rant.  Onto the photos!

                       

Products Used:
China Glaze Stone Cold
Zoya America
Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Sun Kissed
China Glaze Sunshine Pop
China Glaze Gaga for Green
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Brisk Blue
China Glaze Gothic Lolita

Quick Neutral/Neon Polka Dot Mani

I figured I probably shouldn't do ANOTHER gradient even if I love them to death, so I went another direction.  I was gifted a nail dotting tool by one of my friends so I figured I'd give that a shot.  I've been using toothpicks for the past, I dunno, 26 years when I need to make dots on my nails, so I thought the dotting tool would just make it that much easier.  Lo and behold, I kinda suck at nail dotting tools.  I am sooo not used to it- but I think this is just going to be one of those practice makes perfect deals.

Products Used:
Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Wet Cement
China Glaze Sunshine Pop
China Glaze Fuchsia Fanatic

4th of July mani for the beach

Me and the fiance and the fam are headed to the ocean this week.  I figure this mani won't last all the way till the 4th, but I'll bring polish to do another one when it chips off.  I thought this turned out pretty cute- like a little soldier's outfit or something.  For last year's mani check out this link.

Products Used:

Zoya America

Revlon Royal

LA Colors Art Deco in White

Ten Minute Mani: Purple Polka Dots!

Sometimes I love spending an hour on my nails, hand painting with toothpicks or tiny paintbrushes or whatever, and sometimes I just want something that's done quickly and looks nice.  This was one of those times.

I wanted something fun, but that would also be ok to wear to my internship.  I decided to do some subtle stamping.  I chose my colors based on some of the nail mail I got from Ulta that's been sitting next to my desk for over a month- China Glaze Devotion was the one that I chose for tonight, and I paired it with OPI Rumple's Wiggin, my go-to light purple.  Some quick polka dot stamps, and voila!  A manicure that didn't take much time, and got me several compliments from the kiddos at my elementary school.  Success!  This is FOR SURE one of my favorite manicures I've ever done, and so simple!  I am definitely going to save this idea for a rainy day.

I seriously was racing the sun home to get these photos.
Totally forgot about Daylight Saving's Time screwing with my afternoon sunshine!

Products Used:

OPI Rumple's Wiggin

China Glaze Devotion

Bundle Monster plate BM19

Blue Polka Dots

I have been looking all over for a pastel blue, and I finally found one that's pretty close to what I was thinking... Blue-Away from Sally Hansen.  So I tried it out, and then threw some dots on and before you know it... polka dots/funky french!

Unfortunately I smeared the index finger and fudged my thumbnail, but I really loved this and will probably try it again with different colors.

Products used:
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Blue-Away
Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Blue My Away
Wet and Wild in Black Creme
Seche Vite
Bundle Monster Plate BM19

Looking Back part 2

More designs from my sordid past (part one):

A split-screen scotch tape mani from June 2010

Another scotch tape mani from January 2011

Valentine's day konads from February 2011

Blue with gold hex glitter, matted, from May 2011

Polka Dots and Roses from May 2011

Monet Polka Dots

For Easter I wanted something quick and easy, so I went for this great Monet-inspired polka dot manicure.

I love them!  So does my boyfriend.  He is so supportive (when the manicure is finished.. not so supportive when I'm buying MORE nail polish haha!)  This was an effortless design to do.  I used the fat, thicker end of a toothpick to make the dots.  Easy as pie!

Products used:

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Beige Blast, Lightening, and Snappy Sorbet

OPI Rumple's Wiggin'

OPI Gargantuan Green Grape Matte

Revlon Pink Chiffon

Maybelline Express Finish in Pie in the Sky

SV Topcoat

Toothpick!